Sr. Genevieve Panackal

“I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God….. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people…. (Rev: 21/2-4). The holy city of God has come down and embraced our Sr. Genevieve. She has gained the peace and joy of everlasting bliss with God who has made all things new for her. “The sufferings are measured in hours but its reward is eternal.” This maxim of our Blessed Foundress is realized as Sr. Genevieve left this earthly dwelling to receive the reward the good Lord. She had begun her earthly pilgrimage on 1st September 1946 as the 3rd of six children born to Mr. Augustine Panackal and Mrs. Aleyamma in Kozhikode district. She was christened Thresiamma. After her schooling she answered to the Lord’s call and joined the Ursulines of Mary Immaculate in 1964. She made her first profession in 1967 and the final profession in 1972. She did her diploma in General Nursing and midwifery in our School of Nursing. They were the first batch of students. She worked as staff nurse in our hospitals and health centers at Vythiri, Bazpur, Mariampur and Gajraula. In 1990 she was transferred to Vizhinjam, Trivandrum. “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” (Mt: 25/40). Moved by this saying of Jesus she stepped into the field of Social Work and was a staff at the Social Service Society of Trivandrum Diocese. She put all her might and talents to lift the lives of the poor, the downtrodden, the less privileged of the society becoming voice of the voiceless people. She is the one who toiled hard to bring up the Social Service Society of Amala Province to the heights it is today. She has served as the Superior, Vice- Superior and the Councillor for Social Work in the Provincial Team for 12 years. She found time to visit the homes of the poor and less privileged, listening to their woes, praying with them and for them and helped them out in their dire needs. She courageously faced all the challenges entailed in the field of social work. She was a person of prayer, deep commitment, very sociable and a good friend of every one regardless of their status. In 2007 she was transferred to Shanti Sadan, Chelavoor as she withdrew from active work after severe and persisting complications arising from interstitial lung disease. Many hours of her days were spent before the Blessed Sacrament praying for the needs of the whole world. The last three years she had severe breathing difficulties and was managing with oxygen support. She had the desire of celebrating the golden jubilee of her religious profession and this dream was realized on 21st February 2017 in the presence of many of her relatives. On 21st May, with aggravated breathing conditions she was shifted to the medical ICU. During these days of severe pain and agony she was comforted by the prayers and presence of her relatives and friends as well as our sisters. The Lord took her with Him on 25th May. Priests, nuns, relatives, friends, benefactors and beneficiaries, staff – from near and far came to pay their last respects to the mortal remains of their beloved sister. Msgr. Antony Kozhuvanal of Thamarassery diocese, her friend and classmate during her schooldays came and offered a requiem Mass at 7 pm. On 26th morning, Most Rev. Dr. Remigiose Inchananiyil, Bishop of Thamarassery came and prayed the office and gave his last blessings. The funeral Mass at 10 am was presided over by Most Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal, Bishop of Calicut and concelebrated by ten other priests. After the Mass, Sr. Genevieve’s mortal remains were accompanied in procession to the Holy Redeemer church cemetery. Rev. Fr. Paul A. J. led the prayers and gave the last blessings. Let us rest assured that the FATHER rewards Sr. Genevieve for all the good she has done here on earth and pray that she intercedes for us to the Lord, to bless her family, our beloved Congregation, the Church and the entire humanity with His choicest graces and blessings.